Active Learning

[sbambrick1217]

It seems that UIS wants us to include our Active Learning section in the Syllabus... here is the updated version (with the line about pairing musicians/non musicians replaced):

We will employ Harvard’s “group work” and “collaborative note-taking” active learning concepts to teach students how to build circuits, solder electronic components, and test sensors. For group work, we will pair a student who identifies as a musician with one who identifies as an engineer. In this manner, musicians will help engineers with musical concepts, and engineers will help musicians with engineering concepts.

For collaborative note-taking, students will be given time to review each other’s notes for mistakes. At the end of class, students will consolidate their individual notes into a “master” note sheet that may be used by both students. (Cornell’s active learning methodologies include a similar concept called “catch-up”.)

We will carry out the aforementioned by oscillating between lecture and activity at a ratio of 3:1 or 2:1, depending on the material. For example, for every 12 minutes of lecture we’ll break for 4 minutes of activities. Or, for every 20 minutes of lecture we’ll break for 10 minutes of activities. Each class will begin with a session breakdown and end with a summary.

Because of the amount of material we need to cover, we estimate that an active learning model will be observed for 40–50% of the semester.

[code-warrior]

I don’t see UIS asking for this to be included in the syllabus; they just wanted clarity on the matter. I’m going to leave it out and add it if they explicitly ask for it to be included in the syllabus.